Launching the Uncovered Sessions may not seem like a big deal, but it absolutely is. In our VIP group on Facebook, I questioned my babes about how they would feel if they saw an unretouched photo of themselves and why they would feel the way they did. The majority of them stated their perceived flaws would be amplified, they would see their "imperfections" and they would be faced with what the world has told them is true: they aren't "perfect." Well, here's a fun fact: you will never be perfect to everyone and the only person you need to be perfect for is yourself.
The beautiful girl in this post is an amazing makeup artist and currently working towards a fitness competition which means A)she uses makeup a lot (now for fun more than anything) and B)she is working to attain a strong body and someone else's idea of what perfection is (in addition to her own). Now, the cool thing about that is, she came forward saying she wanted to partake in this photoshoot and I promise you that if you aren't thinking "What does she have to be concerned about? She's tiny and beautiful" then the next person to read it will. We are drowning in comparison hysteria (something I made up). We see someone else and automatically assume that they can't possibly feel as terrible as we do. We look at them and say "Oh!! How I wish I had their XXXX!" When in actuality, those people are probably look at you and thinking the exact same thing!!
I invited some babes to my studio to talk about body image and where it all began for them and one of the questions I asked was "If Photoshop wasn't a thing and you didn't know there was a way to change your appearance in photos, would you still want them to be changed??" Like, who decided that a poreless face was an ideal standard?? Who decided that the "perfect" waist size was 26 inches?? And who the fuck decided to tell us to despise all the natural parts of us SO much that we would spend countless dollars, hours, and energy trying to remove, manipulate, shrink, enlarge, erase, or color them?? Whomever it is should start worrying, because I am only a small part of the upcoming revolution to body acceptance.
It's time to raise up, ladies, and shout from the rooftops that we will no longer buy into the bullshit that we aren't enough of one thing and not too much of another!! It's time to say "I'm okay with all my bits!! I am okay with my rolls, with my skin, with my color, with my age, with my waist size, with my shape, with my height, with all the bits that make up the perfection that is me!!"
What does this mean for boudoir sessions with me? Will ALL of them be photoshop free?? Not at all!! "But what the heck, Teri," you are thinking to yourself, "You just said..." Yes, yes I know. My goal with the Uncovered Sessions is to give you a resource to help you on your journey to self-love and acceptance. These sessions are more of a therapeutic tool rather than the luxury experience that you will experience with the traditional boudoir sessions. I want you to love seeing yourself unretouched as much as you do retouched. I want you to love yourself without makeup as much as you love seeing yourself with makeup.
Now, things you can expect with the Uncovered Sessions:You will have rolls. (these are beautiful)You will have texture to your skin. (gasp! what a concept!)You will see your scars, birthmarks, beauty marks, and all the other makings of your story. (yours is unique to you!)You will see a true documentation of yourself in this particular time in your life. You will have to face your true beauty.Do I believe these sessions are for everyone? No. Do I believe that everyone should experience an uncovered session at some point in their journey? Yes, but I know that not everyone is ready to face these parts of themselves just yet.
We've all seen the #nomakeup#nofilter selfie on Instagram for the world to see (and don't get me wrong, I love a good selfie) but when are we going to start looking at these photos for ourselves and actually spending time with them. I mean, looking at ourselves in the mirror or in a photo and seeing the awesome boss babe that is staring back instead of picking apart every little thing we have been told is the wrong way. (Note: I didn't say "IS" wrong, I said you have been TOLD it's wrong.)
So, dolls, you will see the details for these sessions under the packages and promos tab on the website or if you want to learn more about them you can schedule a time to come see me for a chat and let's get this revolution started!!
She Is Strong ~ Regina boudoir photography
Miss N and I go waaaaaay back to when I used to live in Regina, but we connected on a deeper level because she had relatives from my hometown! What are the chances? Anyhow, I have done photos for her on numerous occasions, but ever since I have known her I have been immensely impressed by her strength and resilience. She is not one to back down easily (which might be why loves husky dogs...she can relate to them), she is always strengthening herself, whether it be physically, mentally, or creatively.
When we first met, I think her "thing" at the time was triathalons, which took so much dedication and more recently she has lost herself in dance. Not only does she professionally dance herself, but she also teaches clients in Regina. More than that, though, she has found yet another outlet for her soul.
Miss N is one of those girls, that if you looked at her you would say she has the "perfect body", "gorgeous hair", etc. but she has endured so much more than just her kick ass looks and her strength comes from a place deeper than her tightly toned muscles.
The past year hasn't been the best too Miss N, but it really hasn't slowed her down. In fact, she has used it to fuel her passions and her dreams and is moving on and moving forward.
The type of stuff that has plagued Miss N's life is the type of shit that happens to a lot of people and while I don't need to share the details of her personal life, I can tell you that it doesn't matter WHAT the scenario is, but if it drags you down, makes you feel like shit, and puts you in a dark place, it is not a place that you should dwell. It's never easy to get out of what we know for fear of what other people will think, it's comfortable, it has become the new "normal", whatever, but you need to take a chapter from Miss N's book and move into the light. Shitty job? Start planning your escape! Horrible relationship that is not doing either of you any good? Get the f* out! (ps. it's not love if either of you are suffering internally) No money? What are you doing to change? You get what I am saying.
Move on, and don't look back.